Display stand for grave vaults



Feb. 11, 1930. a, c, D 1,746,355

DISPLAY STAND FOR GRAVE VAULTS Filed Dec. 6, 1 928 gwuentoc firacefladd-Patented Feb. 11, 1930 V UNET'ED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE BRUCE G. LADD, OFGLEIIDALE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO THE CLARK GRAVE VAULT COMPANY, OFCOLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO DISPLAY STAND FOR GRAVE VAULTSApplication filed December 6," 1928. Serial No. 324,143.

This invention relates to an improved support for effecting the displayparticularly of grave vaults, caskets or other devices employed byundertakers.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of asupporting stand comprising an integralmember of metallic structure andwhich is formed or bent to include a substantially horizontallyextending base portion and an upstanding vertical portion, the baseportion being fashioned to receive and support the baseof a grave vaultand a superposed casket, while the vertically extending portion of thesupport is shaped or formed to receive the separable hood section of agrave vault, the form of the vertically extending portion of the standbeing such as to support the vault hood ina horizontal plane above thebase of the vault and the easket resting thereon in order that anobserver may readily view and inspect both the base and hood sections ofa grave vault as well as the casket.

Another object of the invention resides in forming the stand so that thehood section of the vault will be supported in an acute angular positionwith respect to the horizontal, the arrangement providing for a compactassembly yet with sufficient separation between the parts beingdisplayed to permit the latter to be completely viewed fromsubstantially any angle.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction, combinations of elements and arrangements of partshereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the display stands comprising thepresent invention, illustrating the use thereof effecting display ofundertakers appliances,

Figure 2 is a View in end elevation of one of the display stands,showing more particularly the construction of the stand whereby the baseand hood sections of a grave vault are maintained in spacedrelationship,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the display stand comprising thepresent invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designatesthe display stand comprising the present invention. In

practice, a pair of these display stands are' utilized to effect thesupport of the base section 2 of a metallic grave vault, the hoodsection 3 of said vault and, if desired, a casket rod material, which isbent, wrought or otherwise fashioned to produce a horizontally extendingbase portion 5. The outer end of this portion is bent downwardly andvertically to produce a forward leg 6, while the inner end of thebaseportion 5 terminates in a pair of downwardly extending outwardly diverging legs 7, which impart stability to the stand and enables, thelatter readily to sustain its uprightposition under the loads imposedthereon. l

The inner endIof the base portion 5 terminatesin an upwardly extendingvertically di posed hood supporting section 8, and the extreme upper endof this section 8 terminates in "an angularly bent portion 9, which liesat an acute angle with respect to the plane of the upright portion 8.Adjacent to the point of juncture of the vertically and angularlyextending portions 8 and 9 of the stand there is provided an integralsupporting hook 10, which extends rearwardly from the portion 8. It willbe observed that the construction .of the display stand is such that theparts thereof lie in the same vertical plane with the exception of thediverging legs 7 This is the feature which enables the display standwhen not in use, or when being transported, to be compactly stored so asto occupy but a minimum of space.

Each of the display stand units is self sup.- porting, that is, theconstruction of the legs 6 and 7 enable each unit to stand withoutextraneous assistance. In practice the stands are spaced apart a desireddistance and rest upon the floor surface. Then, there is placed upon thebase portions 5 of said stands the base section 2 of a metallic gravevault, and

direction. This upon this base section there may be superposed a casket4. To support the hood section 3 of the vault the lower longitudinaledges of said hood section, as shown in Figure 2, are engaged with thehook portions 10 of the stand units. It will be observed that the flare11 provided at the lower edge of the hood section readily enters theopen sides of the hooks 10 and further, the obliquely extending portions9 of the stand enter the interior of the hood section and engage withthe inner walls thereof. It will be seen that by this construction thehood is supported in an angular position with respect to the horizontalfrom one side thereof. The tendency of the hood is to swing or rotate ina forward movement or tendency thereof, however, is arrested by theengagement between the lower portion of one side of the hood and thevertical legs of the hooks 10, and also by the engagement between theinner surface of one of the side walls of the hood and the angularlyextending portions 9 of the supporting stand. The arrangement permitsthe vault and casket parts to be readily assembled in display positionsand provides for effective observation or inspection of the vault andcasket units. If desired, portable and removable electric light may beinserted in the hood section of the vault to more thoroughly display thearticles supported by the stand.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the resent inventionprovides a display stan of simple, efiicient and economic constructionwell adapted to the specific uses above set forth. It should beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the precise details ofconstruction herein described but reserve the right to employ allrsuchmodifications thereof that may be said to fall within the scope of thefollowing claims. For example, the dis lay units 1 may be united bylongi tudinal y extending members, if desired. However, I prefer to formthese display units separately for convenience in handling, storage andtransportation, although it is within the scope of the invention topositively unite the same if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A display stand for grave vaults comprising an integral metallicstructure formed to include a horizontally extending base portion havingdownwardly extending legs at the o posite ends thereof, an uprightportion ormed with one end of said base por tion, said upright portionterminating in an angularly bent portion lying at an acute angle withrespect to the vertical, a hook formed with said upright portion andextending rearwardly therefrom in a plane below the angularly bentportion, the base por tion of said stand, the upright portion, theangularly bent portion and the hook device being arranged in the sameVertical plane,

2. A display stand for grave vaults comprising a base frame formed toefifect the support of the base section of a metallic grave vault in asubstantially horizontal position, an upright portion formed with oneend of said base section, said upright portion terminating in anangularly disposed portion lying at an acute angle with respect to thevertical, a hook formed with said upright ortion and extendingrearwardly therefrom in a plane below the angularly bent portion andabove said base section, the base section of said stand, the uprightportion, the angularly bent portion and the hook device being arrangedin the same vertical plane.

3. A display stand for grave vaults comprising a horizontally extendingbase portion, supporting legs depending from said base position, avertically extending portion rigidly associated with one end of saidbase portion, said vertically extending portion terminating at its upperend in an angularly disposed rearwardly inclined portion bent at anacute angle with respect to the vertical,

and a hook device rigidly formed with said vertically extending portionand projecting rearwardly therefrom, said hook device being situatedadjacent the juncture of said vertically and angularly extendingportions and arranged above the plane of said base portion and in thesame vertical plane as said angularly extending portion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BRUCE o. LADD.

